Egypt refuted media reports that a 2016 crash of a Paris-Cairo EgyptAir flight that killed all passengers on board was likely caused by a cockpit fire, stressing that it was still carrying out investigations over the crash, a statement by the general prosecution said.

In an official statement reported by state-owned MENA agency, the general prosecution described the reports as ‘unfounded’.

This is the first official Egyptian comment on the issue since several media outlets, citing French investigators, reported that the cause of the crash was likely due to a fire in the cockpit.

French investigators said that their Egyptian counterparts have not followed up calls for further investigations, according to media reports.

“The reports saying that the crash was due to the cockpit fire are based on invalid grounds,” the statement said, adding that investigations over the matter were still in progress.

The general prosecution again indicated the Egyptian forensics report, which said that traces of explosives were found on human remains, plastic, mineral, and metal materials retrieved from the crash.

Egypt’s High State Prosecution has been carrying out investigations since December 2016 following an announcement by Egypt’s civi aviation ministry at the time that traces of explosives were found on the remains of the victims,

The Airbus A320 plunged into the eastern Mediterranean en route from Paris to Cairo on 19 May, killing all 66 passengers on board. No report has yet been released by the committee regarding the cause of the crash.

The plane was carrying 40 Egyptian citizens, 15 French, two Iraqis, two Canadians as well as passengers from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.